By completing special research and special tasks, you can battle Giovanni in Pokémon GO. But how do you defeat him and what are the best counters in 2022?
How to find Giovanni? The boss of Team GO Rocket appears through events in the game. To do this, you need to solve a special research or complete other quests to secure the Super Rocket Radar.
With this, you can then track down and challenge Giovanni. The battle will then proceed just like against the other Rocket bosses.
How to defeat Giovanni in Pokémon GO in March 2022
What Pokémon does Giovanni have? Giovanni’s legendary Pokémon changes regularly. He battled with a Ho-Oh in June. However, he suddenly disappeared with the start of the new season.
After being switched out for a few weeks, he has now returned. Since November 9, 2021, his new team has been active. As a legendary Pokémon, there will be Crypto-Lugia.
His complete team looks as follows:
| First Pokémon | Second Pokémon | Third Pokémon |
| Snorlax | Nidoking | Lugia |
| Kingler | ||
| Rhyhorn |
These are important prerequisites: You should ideally align your team against Giovanni’s Pokémon. Snorlax and Lugia are always included by the boss. Therefore, you should always have suitable counters, which we have summarized for you using the overviews from Pokebattler (via pokebattler.com).
Moreover, Giovanni always uses his shields during your first two charged attacks. So initially, you should focus on fast charged attacks to lure out the shields.
How to counter Snorlax
Against Snorlax, one should use Lucario with Power-Up Punch. This attack can be executed very quickly, allowing you to take away both of Giovanni’s shields with his first Pokémon. Lucario is among the best attackers in Pokémon GO.
Alternatives to Lucario:
- Tyranitar with Stone Edge and Crunch
- Machamp with Counter and Cross Chop
- Terrakion with Stone Edge and Rock Slide
If you want to use a Mega Evolution, then Mega-Gyarados with Bite and Aqua Tail would be a good choice.
How to counter Nidoking
The Poison and Ground type Pokémon is particularly weak against Psychic, Water, Ice, and Ground types. The best Pokémon here are:
- Excadrill with Mud Shot and Drill Run
- Empoleon with Waterfall and Hydro Pump
- Jirachi with Confusion and Wish
- Kyogre with Waterfall and Surf
For Mega Evolutions, you can use the following counters:
- Mega-Gyarados with Waterfall and Aqua Tail
- Mega-Latios with Confusion and Psychic
- Mega-Blastoise with Water Gun and Hydro Pump
- Mega-Gengar with Dark Pulse and Shadow Punch.
How to counter Kingler
The Water type Pokémon is weak against Grass and Electric types. So rely on such Pokémon. A good choice would be:
- Grotle with Leaf Blade and Leaf Storm
- Leafeon with Bullet Seed and Leaf Blade
- Zarude with Vine Whip and Leaf Tornado
- Palkia with Dragon Tail and Aqua Tail
Otherwise, you can also use the following Mega Evolutions:
- Mega-Venusaur with Leaf Blade and Floral Healing
- Mega-Ampharos with Volt Switch and Thunderbolt
- Mega-Gyarados with Dragon Tail and Aqua Tail
How to counter Rhyhorn
Rhyhorn is a Ground and Rock type Pokémon. Therefore, you should use counters of Grass and Water types. It is also sensitive to Fighting, Steel, Ice, and Ground types. It is best to use the following counters:
- (Crypto-) Torterra with Leaf Blade and Sandstorm
- (Crypto-) Gyarados with Waterfall and Aqua Tail
- Swampert with Mud Shot and Hydro Pump
- Kyogre with Waterfall and Surf
For Mega Evolutions, the following counters are suitable:
- Mega-Gyarados with Waterfall and Aqua Tail
- Mega-Venusaur with Leaf Blade and Floral Healing
- Mega-Latios with Leaf Blade and Meteorology
How to counter Lugia
Lugia is a legendary Psychic and Flying type Pokémon. Here, you should use Pokémon of the Rock, Dark, Electric, Ghost, and Ice types. A good choice would be the following Pokémon:
| Pokémon | Moveset |
| Melmetal | Thunder Shock and Rock Slide |
| Zacian | Play Rough and Thunder Fang |
| Yveltal | Play Rough and Dark Pulse |
| Caesurio | Play Rough and Dark Pulse |
| (Crypto-) Magnezone | Spark and Thunder Fang |
| Regirock | Rock Wrecker and Rock Slide |
| (Crypto-) Raikou | Thunder Shock and Thunder Fang |
| (Crypto-) Tyranitar | Stone Edge and Crunch |
| Mew | Dark Pulse and Thunder Fang |
| Alolan Sandshrew | Powder Snow and Ice Punch |
More good counters against Lugia can be found in our counter guide:
If you want to rely on Mega Evolutions, then you should use the following Pokémon:
- Mega-Latios: Powder Snow and Meteorology
- Mega-Gyarados: Dragon Tail & Crunch
- Mega-Houndoom: Play Rough and Crunch
- Mega-Gengar: Dark Pulse and Shadow Punch
It is always important that you have the Pokémon at high levels. It is useless to have a good team if you haven’t leveled them up.
The same applies to the moves. A reasonable counter without the right moves is useless.
Do you still need to defeat the other bosses? Then check out the appropriate counter guide:
The battle against the Rocket bosses and the mechanics in the PvP mode are somewhat more complicated. Therefore, we provide you with some tips that will help you in battle and in the PvP League. This way, you can catch many special Crypto Pokémon in the future and expand your collection with more strong fighters.
10 tips I wish I had known about the PvP mode in Pokémon GO
If you want to use a Mega Evolution, then Mega-Gyarados with Bite and Aqua Tail would be a good choice.
How to counter Nidoking
The Poison and Ground type Pokémon is particularly weak against Psychic, Water, Ice, and Ground types. The best Pokémon here are:
- Excadrill with Mud Shot and Drill Run
- Empoleon with Waterfall and Hydro Pump
- Jirachi with Confusion and Wish
- Kyogre with Waterfall and Surf
For Mega Evolutions, you can use the following counters:
- Mega-Gyarados with Waterfall and Aqua Tail
- Mega-Latios with Confusion and Psychic
- Mega-Blastoise with Water Gun and Hydro Pump
- Mega-Gengar with Dark Pulse and Shadow Punch.
How to counter Kingler
The Water type Pokémon is weak against Grass and Electric types. So rely on such Pokémon. A good choice would be:
- Grotle with Leaf Blade and Leaf Storm
- Leafeon with Bullet Seed and Leaf Blade
- Zarude with Vine Whip and Leaf Tornado
- Palkia with Dragon Tail and Aqua Tail
Otherwise, you can also use the following Mega Evolutions:
- Mega-Venusaur with Leaf Blade and Floral Healing
- Mega-Ampharos with Volt Switch and Thunderbolt
- Mega-Gyarados with Dragon Tail and Aqua Tail
How to counter Rhyhorn
Rhyhorn is a Ground and Rock type Pokémon. Therefore, you should use counters of Grass and Water types. It is also sensitive to Fighting, Steel, Ice, and Ground types. It is best to use the following counters:
- (Crypto-) Torterra with Leaf Blade and Sandstorm
- (Crypto-) Gyarados with Waterfall and Aqua Tail
- Swampert with Mud Shot and Hydro Pump
- Kyogre with Waterfall and Surf
For Mega Evolutions, the following counters are suitable:
- Mega-Gyarados with Waterfall and Aqua Tail
- Mega-Venusaur with Leaf Blade and Floral Healing
- Mega-Latios with Leaf Blade and Meteorology
How to counter Lugia
Lugia is a legendary Psychic and Flying type Pokémon. Here, you should use Pokémon of the Rock, Dark, Electric, Ghost, and Ice types. A good choice would be the following Pokémon:
| Pokémon | Moveset |
| Melmetal | Thunder Shock and Rock Slide |
| Zacian | Play Rough and Thunder Fang |
| Yveltal | Play Rough and Dark Pulse |
| Caesurio | Play Rough and Dark Pulse |
| (Crypto-) Magnezone | Spark and Thunder Fang |
| Regirock | Rock Wrecker and Rock Slide |
| (Crypto-) Raikou | Thunder Shock and Thunder Fang |
| (Crypto-) Tyranitar | Stone Edge and Crunch |
| Mew | Dark Pulse and Thunder Fang |
| Alolan Sandshrew | Powder Snow and Ice Punch |
More good counters against Lugia can be found in our counter guide:
If you want to rely on Mega Evolutions, then you should use the following Pokémon:
- Mega-Latios: Powder Snow and Meteorology
- Mega-Gyarados: Dragon Tail & Crunch
- Mega-Houndoom: Play Rough and Crunch
- Mega-Gengar: Dark Pulse and Shadow Punch
It is always important that you have the Pokémon at high levels. It is useless to have a good team if you haven’t leveled them up.
The same applies to the moves. A reasonable counter without the right moves is useless.
Do you still need to defeat the other bosses? Then check out the appropriate counter guide:
The battle against the Rocket bosses and the mechanics in the PvP mode are somewhat more complicated. Therefore, we provide you with some tips that will help you in battle and in the PvP League. This way, you can catch many special Crypto Pokémon in the future and expand your collection with more strong fighters.
